Managing Diabetes with Diet

Why Do People Follow This Diet?

People with diabetes have tremendous power to determine the course of their condition. Through long-term adherence to a healthy diet and regular exercise, those with pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes may prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, and those who already have type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of correlated conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and obesity. Following this diet may also help people who use diabetes-managing medications to avoid their most common and dangerous side effect: hypoglycemia.

The overarching goals of this diet are to optimize blood glucose control and prevent the many chronic health conditions associated with diabetes. These goals are met through choosing high quality carbohydrates with plenty of fiber, getting anti-inflammatory antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, and including foods with anti-inflammatory fats like nuts, seeds, olive oil, and fish. In addition, avoiding sugary and refined foods that cause rapid fluctuations in blood glucose levels, and limiting processed foods and animal foods that contribute to chronic inflammation, are steps that help people with diabetes reach their larger goals.

The information presented by Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2018.